U.S. Government Rebuffed In Japanese Bid-Rigging Suit

Law360, New York (October 5, 2006, 12:00 AM EDT) -- In a setback for the United States, a court in Tokyo rejected Thursday the U.S. government’s damages claims in a 12-year-old lawsuit over bid-rigging among Japanese construction companies.

The Tokyo High Court acknowledged the defendants had conspired to inflate prices while constructing an air base for the U.S. Navy, but the judge decided the U.S. government had already been compensated through out-of-court settlements.

According to presiding judge, Toshimi Ouchi, the figure is sufficient because it’s twice what the U.S. government allegedly lost through the bid-rigging scheme,...